Discectomy

When a spinal disc compresses on a nerve root or spinal cord, a patient may experience leg and/or back pain, weakness, and even reduced mobility that needs to be addressed. This can be what is known as a herniated or degenerative disc along the spine. If non-surgical treatments, like physical therapy, fail to alleviate this condition, a discectomy may be the next avenue of treatment. 

Commonly used to treat slipped or herniated discs, a discectomy is a surgical procedure in which all or part of the affected spinal disc is removed. Diagnostic testing, such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Computed Tomography (CT), and myelogram, will reveal the extent of the condition. 

Discectomies can either be a traditional open surgery, such as with a laminotomy or laminectomy, or a minimally invasive procedure known as a microdiscectomy. This procedure uses small incisions and tiny tools to remove the affected disc, and as a result, offers less disruption of soft tissue, shorter hospital stays, quicker recovery times, and can be done even as an outpatient procedure.